Former Swansea man Allen will be a key man for Wales in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign

When he arrived at Liverpool, Joe Allen knew he was about to be part of something special as Brendan Rodgers’ revolution at Anfield got underway.

As Wales prepare to take their first steps in this latest qualifying campaign, there is that same sense of anticipation. Something big could be about to happen to Welsh football.

Allen didn’t quite get his chance to lift the Premier League trophy and become only the fourth player from this country to do so, Liverpool – literally – slipping up at the crucial moment having finally convinced they were back to challenge for major honours.

While Rodgers’ Reds look likely to have their chance again, even Allen admits that there is no time like the present for Wales. When a nation has waited this long for a major finals, even a 24-year-old carries the impatience.

“We know this can be big,” Allen said. “We’ve known for a while this was going to be a huge tournament. We’ve been looking forward to it for that reason and now we just want to get on with it. We want to show we’re ready for this.”

It is overdue. The Pembrokeshire-playmaker would have been only 13 the last time Wales got anywhere near to qualification and the rebuilding process for those in his generation, one oft-described as golden, has been an arduous one. Mistakes have been made and in the main forgiven because of the inexperience of those involved.

No longer, not when you have players who have lifted trophies or played in title-deciders with plenty of Premier League appearances to their names. Chris Coleman’s side are not kids anymore.

Allen especially. The former Swansea midfielder does not boast the same high tally of caps as some of his international peers, not getting his senior breakthrough until Gary Speed’s time in charge, but last year he was an influential part of the Liverpool side that so nearly overcame the odds to win their first title in 24 years.

A sigh when asked about missing out on a league winners’ medal does suggest that disappointment still lingers, but the £15m player is already able to put it into context.

“It shows how far we came in a short space of time,” the 17-cap ace said of Liverpool’s failure to hang onto their lead at the top of the table as Manchester City eventually took the crown. “To be disappointed not to lift the Premier League trophy at the end of the season is incredible when you think about it.

“You’re always going to look back with a little bit of disappointment when you come so close, but I think the overriding story was we went right to the end and gave a fantastic account for ourselves and I’ve gained a lot from the experience.

“You’re involved in a different intensity, playing in certain occasions and in certain atmospheres was incredible to be part of. It feels like I talk about experience a lot but it does make that difference the next time you’re faced with a big challenge or pressure, you’re that much wiser about how to handle it. It goes for all of us - look through the squad and we’ve all got those sort of stories behind us.

“As a team we’ve sensed over the years there were players of enough potential and quality coming through to give us a chance somewhere down the line. Hopefully we’ve gone through the time where we’ve made our mistakes and gone through that process of learning, but now we feel it’s time to deliver.

"In two years time if we’re sat at home watching the European Championships it will be a massive regret. That has to be our incentive. With the talent and ability we’ve got we want to make sure there’s no excuses this time around.”

There were last time. There was a similar buzz before the attempt to make the World Cup in Brazil, one that quickly disappeared. The after-effects of the loss of Speed remained as Wales took on Belgium without an ill Allen and lost with ten-men. His sickness was nothing like the stomach-churning defeat to Serbia four days later that ended hopes before they had begun.

There certainly can be no excuses against Andorra as the 2016 campaign gets underway, even if the pitch has caused concern. There should be no reason why Wales should have any trouble dismissing a team seen as only marginally better than San Marino in terms of the European standings.

“The last time we were disappointed with way we performed,” Allen said. “The preparations were spot on but we let ourselves down in lots of ways. But we’ve moved on since then, we’re more experienced as I say.

“There were lessons learned, harsh ones, but things I think we’ve moved on from. We’re probably more experienced now and as difficult as it was at the time, in some ways we’re better for it. That’s probably why we feel so confident, why we’re full of belief that we can do something in this campaign. We’re older, wiser, we’re ready for it.”

Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen

The true test will be beyond next Tuesday, but the determination of not missing this opportunity was evident in players who were not making light of their lowly minnow hosts but not talking about any fear of an upset. Wales, after all, has suffered its fair share of them.

“No game is easy at this level but we want three points and we have the belief and confidence get off to a good start,” said Allen, who captained Wales in their last outing, a performance that impressed in defeat to the World Cup semi-finals bound Netherlands.

“It’s obvious to say but a good start is vital and Andorra has to be a platform for us. There is always a dream of what we want to do and a target to reach but there is a long road and a process to go through to get there. Every minute matters.

“We expect to go there and perform and have the quality to win the game. A lesson we had from the last campaign was that we gave ourselves too much to do, we were always trying to claw our way back. The big thing for us now is we can get off to a good start and build on that.”

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